1848 04 03 Charles F.B. Wood to J.Milbourne Marsh

Letter to Milbourne from Charles F.B Wood, Glamorgan, South Wales, 1848, formerly of Barnwood Vicarage, Gloucester.

Penmark Vicarage

Cowbridge

3^rd April 1848

My dear Marsh,

I will not allow my wife’s epistle to you to be (left?) unaccompanied by a line; first to congratulate you on the happy (count) which has marked your present visit to our much loved Country, and to express my heartfelt wishes that your union for both your sakes may be crowned with every blessing you anticipate. I am sure, and I consider myself entitled to give an opinion on the subject that if we are not very much happier for being married, it is our fault.

 It would have given us great pleasure if we could have seen you here; you would have found this a very different country from England, much behind in conveniences and elegances and I am sorry to say equally so in far more important concerns. It is not a pleasant location for those of our profession, for as far as we can judge, our labour produces very very little fruits, such as it would gratify us to see and it is a hard matter to keep oneself from falling into a state of indifference to those duties and pursuits which ought to be our greatest delight. So little do our parishioners regard as in any other point of view than as they would any other (persons?) whose residence amongst them might be a benefit in a pecuniary way. 

But we may be thankful that we do not find it necessary as the Irish clergy do to go about armed, and that when we go to bed at night we have good reason to expect that we shall get up in the morning with our heads on our shoulders.

I wish I knew more of the country to which you are about to return that I might sympathise with you and your dear wife more fully in regard to your prospects. I believe however, from all that I have heard that it is a region richly endowed by Providence. And I think you are very happy in escaping the dreadful taxation with which we are burdened here. You are particularly fortunate in having your own connexions so much about you.

I suppose you found Gloucester very much altered, I mean, in point of inhabitants. For my own part I find myself almost a stranger there though I have left it so recently compared with you, and have been several times since I came to live here.

I feel assured that I shall never feel towards this country as towards England, but as the way for one coming here seemed to (arise?) quite providentially we feel satisfied that it is for the best. For our children’s sake however, we must do all we can to keep up a connexion with our native soil.

 It will give me great pleasure to hear from you whenever you are disposed to give me a line. And with kindest regards and every good wish for your happiness believe me dear Marsh ever yours very truly

Charles F.B. Wood 

1846 12 01 Milbourne to Grace

Letter Milbourne to Grace – 1^st Dec 1846

To Pinyard Park

Miss Pinnock

Robert Hibbert Esq

13Welbeck Street

London

Post marks 7 Dec Sydney

Demondrille near Yass

My dearest Grace,

Today I had the delight of receiving your letter of the 28^th March, enclosing a lock of your beautiful hair; I gave it – “one kiss, one more, and you get another,” wishing as I did so, that the dear one, from whose “lovely head where late it grew,” were as near to me as her gift. 

I am glad to find that my letters of Sept and Oct 1845, had reached and that the explanation of my affairs had proved satisfactory. Had silenced all doubts and fears. Accept a thousand thanks my own dear Grace, for assuring me “That you would prefer comparative poverty with me to wealth with another,” a sentiment that speaks home to my heart with regard to yourself. 

I cannot tell you how I long for the time, when I shall be able to show you by my affectionate regard, that you could not have allied yourself with me who loved you or appreciated you as I do; you are the first object I have in life, and in you central all my hopes and happiness.

It grieves me much to think of the disappointment you will naturally feel, at my not sailing for England at the time I write, you have long ere thus heard my reasons both from Fanny and myself, and I hope you will agree with us in thinking that it was best for our interests (yours and mine) to postpone my departure – In this country it is almost dangerous to make positive arrangements for any distant period, there is a sort of fatality about it, and I now make certain of nothing till the time arrives – this sort of superstitious feeling has made me reveal to no one (except Fanny) my Engagement with you dear Grace, and I am sorry to say, Aunt Sophy is very much annoyed at my not telling her, - I dare say she has written to some of you in England, to try and find out; Aunt Sophy if you recollect is very curious, but when she finds who the fair Demoiselle is, her anger will be softened, so I shall be I trust nearing the shores of old England: 

David was married on Tuesday last, the 24^th November, to Kate Bowerman. She is pretty and Ladylike, not her sister “Mona” (horrid name) is exactly the reverse, hideous is the only term I can use, and worse than that excessively vulgar. How David will ever manage “to do Brother-in-Law,” puzzles me – perhaps to ease himself of this trouble, he will persuade Frank with matrimony.

You will be sorry to hear that poor Mrs William Manning (Emily Anne Wise 1815-1846) died last Tuesday (I think) after a lingering illness, Fanny and Wise were with her during the last six or seven weeks, - the knowledge of which will perhaps afford some little consolation to her relatives in England. She was buried at Newtown, a short way from Sydney and the carriages of nearly every one attended – the (Times?) Judges, the Colonial Treasurer, and Attorney General were the Pall Bearers – also Dr Dawson, the Physician in Attendance; besides himself Dr Rutherford (whom Aunt M.A. knows (Lady Mary-Ann Meek) Dr Nicholson and Dr Bland – all the skill and talent of the land availed her nothing alas. I wrote to you a short time since that, I thought there was no hope left, and begged if you saw any of her family and break it to them.

In addition to your letter of 28^th March to me which I have already acknowledged, I must tell you that Fanny has sent me up with it all your letters to her, which came together, of 28^th March, 28^th April, 30^th May and 4^th July: this will show you how irregularly the Post is with us, and of course the same delay attends all letters to you in England. 

I am very glad to hear of George’s having passed his Examination with credit – to himself – congratulate him for me, as well as your mother, of whom by the way I am sorry to hear so bad an account; now that her mind is relieved about George she will I hope recover her health and spirits – give her my kind love – and tell her the last I heard of Phil, (it is rare to hear from him) was that he was attending to the shearing whilst David came to Sydney to get married. I do not think, however, he will himself leave the Station this year. He is a very popular fellow with all the men on the Downs I hear.

 The only thing you will not like to hear is that he smokes a great deal, not that I think it will hurt him, from his being such a stout fellow. Frank you sets the example, is also a terrific smoker, and it is very likely to do him harm, but to tell a man in the Bush, to leave off smoking would be as acceptable advice, as to the Epicure at home, to go without his dinner, such is habit.

I have just heard of the appointment of Sir Thomas Downman to the Command of the Garrison at Woolwich, a first rate appointment – our last Governor Sir G. Gipps will hold a subordinate situation under him  I believe.

Fanny writes me word that Wise is thinking of writing to his Sister “Annie” to come not (now?) to this country if she agrees, she might come under your protection if you see her you can tell her, (that?) me of her.

..tensementors? Fred k Manning, (an uncouth being) is to be married shortly to a Miss Docker, whose father was some time back stripped of his gown, for some clerical offence. 

Adieu sweet Grace for awhile and let me be an instrument in your triumphs, as you are in mine, which is the (forward?) wish of your affectionate attached, Milbourne Marsh

Love to Aunt MM and Charl.

1819 04 16 - Frances Elizabeth Marsh

Frances Elisabeth Marsh

Wife of J. Milbourne Marsh Esq and daughter of Dr David Grant, born 8^th Dec. 1798 and died 16^th April 1819 – aged 20 years and four months

Leaving a disconsolate husband sorrowing mother, brother, sisters afflicted friends and two infants, Frances Mary Anne and John Milbourne Marsh.

Death lies on her like and untimely frost (lies?) on the fairest flower of all the field. She was good as she was fair! Here in thought as angels are.

(Died of Yellow fever according to another letter

1870 12 14 Charlotte Mary Anne Russell

Charlotte Mary Anne Stuart Russell died 14^th Dec 1870 at Rugby, England, (nee Charlotte Pinnock) in her 44^th year. Wife of Henry Stuart Russell, formerly of Cecil Plains, Darling Downs and Shafston, Brisbane and Member of the Legislative Council of New South Wales before the separation of Queensland, for the Stanley Borough.

Her mother Charlotte C. L Pinnock died 24^th Sept 1870 at Rugby (nee Grant)

See Times London 27^th Sept.